Amnesty International annual report: Syria, Occupy, austerity, the poor, etc.
Rights group Amnesty International lambasted the United Nations Security Council on Thursday as "tired, out of step and increasingly unfit for purpose".
In its annual report, Amnesty said the failure of world powers to take stronger action on Syria was evidence that a sclerotic security council was hamstrung by vested interests, and also warned of abuses arising from Europe's economic crisis.
Amnesty Secretary General Salil Shetty told Reuters the security council should be reformed so that a veto could not be used to block action in cases of gross human rights violations. "The issue of the failed leadership of the security council - the most damning example is Syria. It's a live tragedy unfolding in front of our eyes," Shetty said.
The rights group also said tough austerity measures in Europe should not relieve states of their responsibilities.
"They have a minimum core obligation to make sure that the basic economic social rights of the population are not affected, particularly the poorest sections of society," Shetty said, referring to plans to cut health, housing and welfare spending. "Unfortunately decisions are being made without any consideration of the human rights impact," he added.
"Historically we've seen that at times of economic crisis you'll start looking for scapegoats. The migrants, the refugees, the groups who practise a different religion," Shetty said.
Protests against austerity cuts and against global economic inequality have erupted around the world, such as the Occupy movement, and Amnesty says some European countries and the United States have used excessive force to quell unrest.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/sns-rt-amnesty-report-embargoedl5e8gnb8d-20120523,0,4451976,full.story
It would be nice if something positive came out of AI's report, but holding your breath is not recommended.
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